Seller Who Doesn't Get Around To Selling

Has anyone ever encountered someone who seems too lazy to get around to selling you something? A while back I had a guy answer a Craigslist ad for something that I was looking for. Called him, he sent me pictures, and I told him I was interested. A couple of parts were missing, and he was going to check with whoever he'd bought the tractor from to see if that guy still had the parts. Gave him some time to get that done, called him back. "No, haven't called him...will go over and see him." After several calls like that over a couple of months with more excuses on why he'd not talked to the previous owner, I said I'd just buy what he had, so when can I come and get it? We agreed on a date the following week. Called him back closer to the talked about day to confirm and get directions. No answer, left a couple of messages on his phone and one with wife to have him call me. No return calls. Never dealt with the guy before to know if that's how he operates, but he basically has to sit in his house and watch me remove the parts and then take my money. Sorry to vent, but since I don't operate that way I can't understand why he'd bother to answer my ad and then not attempt to finish up the deal.

I have had similar experiences with a few sellers. I figure if they don't want to sell stuff bad enough to actually do the work needed and actually return my calls, then I don't want to buy from them. Shrug it off and move on, not worth getting upset over.

I'll take the other side of the coin. I have been selling tools we no longer need online, like row crop cultivators and a cultimulcher, harrowgator. Had one guy buy a fm630 sight unseen, sent a check in the mail. Check was cashed and a year went by before I finally convinced him to come get his equipment. I was getting to ready to list it for sale and see if I could get paid for it again.

I sold an Allis B rear end to a fellow for $100 and he paid and was going to come and pick it up in a week or two. Two years later I started listing it on eBay and finally sold it for $11 to a guy who paid and was going to come next week for it for about two months. The listing stated it had to be picked up in 30 days but I wasn't fussy, I just wanted it gone. This spring it is going to the local consignment auction along with some other leftover tractor parts and I hope it won't be coming back again.
Zach

Yep, BTDT. Guess that's one of the perils of responding to free ads, seller has nothing to loose.

You just made my day. My dad listed an old pasture sprayer, which was our number one implement literally 10 years ago, on a site called big irons a couple years ago. Dude from Omaha bought it, paid the $500 he bid over their website, and never came and got it. Many calls and promises later to come and get it, the sprayer sits in the trees awaiting a resell. Dad doesn't have the heart to relist it.

I love this life.

Josh

I'm a little guilty on that front, not lazy but don't have spare time to show up at any old time to meet folks to kick tires. I'm available weekends but usually have to cancel something else to meet someone and half the time they don't show up.

Had the opposite thing happen last year. Called about an item, seller sent a couple of pictures, I told him it wasn't what I was looking for. He emailed me back and told me I was stupid for not buying it, etc, etc. Really pleasant fellow.

More common than you think around me it they got to get it out of storage or move some thing and never do. Then there are the ones that you can't get a price out of at all!!! Two things either weed them out quick and move on. Or in some cases show up and force the issue.

Could be like a guy I know here. He gets the idea he needs something and buys it then his wife thinks he paid too much or "they" didn't need it. So he put said item on CL and will talk to people about that item then will get done and tell his wife someone is coming to look at it. Now he just basically told them it was sold, not what they were looking for or sure, they could come look at it and he'll get back to them as to a good time. Then he tells his wife about the no show! Kinda funny to watch. She thinks she's the big boss and he plays her like a grand piano.

But it could simply be something like that, guy who's wife says get rid of "it"! and he wants to keep it.

Rick

Went through that rebuilding my dozer. In state fellow had all the parts I needed. Three months later still waiting for him to get them "all sorted out". Finally gave up and bought them from Zimmermans, which is where I should got them from in the first place. (smile)

Neighbor bought the lot across the road for an investment- wife didn't like it, insisted he sell it. He told me with a smile that it was for sale, but he put such a price on it that it would never sell. WRONG- local John Deere dealer's son bought it, put up a very nice house. Neighbor and wife eventually split up, he moved away, that kind of helped the neighborhood, too.

Dealing with the public, not evening counting the crazies. I hate it.
Ron

Hi Zach
If you made all that money on it the first 2 times, and don't want it back, and depending what the other parts are to. why not just haul it straight to scrap. If it's anything like it is round here nobody wants some of that stuff to use or for parts anymore.

The scrap guys buy it at auction, or used to more before the price dropped. you could take it in, get all the money. then be sure it's never coming home again or not have to pay commission at auction either. what ever you do you are moving it once, but not twice if it doesn't sell . I got a few "gems" here like that are leaving the yard on a one way ticket. I hope the nice Chinese gentlemen have as much fun with it as I did over the years to L.O.L.
Regards Robert

Forgot one sometimes the seller can't sell item or he is not the owner. Have seen that one many times. Aunt Abbies nephew trying to sell the back 40 or the grand son trying to sell gramps tractor!!!

I've got 4 or 5 items I've sold that were paid for and never picked up. Some close to 5 years now.